The Hammer

[Liverbird with Phins up]

How good was he last night!!!!!

Originally from NSW, I had my blue gear on last night. But I couldn’t help but cheer the Hammer on. Made up for him.

I am worried about Gilbert. He has been a beast. How long you guys reckon he will be out for?

 

[Chris]

How good was he last night!!!!!

Originally from NSW, I had my blue gear on last night. But I couldn’t help but cheer the Hammer on. Made up for him.

I am worried about Gilbert. He has been a beast. How long you guys reckon he will be out for?

The Hammer keeps on surprising me. Prior to this season I thought he was a very fast runner with very little RL ability.
I just hope Tommy isn't out for the season. That would probably be the biggest possible blow to our chances in September or even October.

 

[Red]

The Hammer keeps on surprising me. Prior to this season I thought he was a very fast runner with very little RL ability.
I just hope Tommy isn't out for the season. That would probably be the biggest possible blow to our chances in September or even October.

It will be a hammer blow to our premiership hopes.

 

[DolphinLungren]

He far exceeded my expectations. The guy also bleeds Red, White and Gold. Loved his Phins up after 2nd try, couldn't ask for a better Marquee man who was not supposed to be a Marquee man, lol.

 

[DolphinLungren]

Loved his Phins up after 2nd try,

Just saw on Facebook this wasn't a Phins up, it was his indigenous totem animal acknowledgement for a shark which he has done many times before. He still seems happy here I guess, lol.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Well his celebration kind of looks like it fits.

He does it after every try

 

[Chris]

Just saw on Facebook this wasn't a Phins up, it was his indigenous totem animal acknowledgement for a shark which he has done many times before. He still seems happy here I guess, lol.

Wouldn't be playing as well as he is if he was unhappy.

 

[Jetty]

I'm just wondering why Wayne sat the Hammer out yesterday. Seems to me, every other team had their Origin players back up. Kodi was one of our best but still would have been nice to have him rather than Wallace at dummy half for the first 20min.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

Yeah, we missed him

 

[Red]

I'm just wondering why Wayne sat the Hammer out yesterday. Seems to me, every other team had their Origin players back up. Kodi was one of our best but still would have been nice to have him rather than Wallace at dummy half for the first 20min.

Bottom line is, Wayne also makes mistakes.

 

[Josh]

Wayne’s rocket after Hammer shocker​

The old fox Wayne Bennett has still got it. Never lost it and never in doubt. Even at the age of 74, Bennett illustrated why he’s still among the NRL’s absolute elite coaches with the way he turned the Dolphins around in round two.

Bennett has shown time and again he’s a genius at when to crack the whip and when to put an arm around a player. After the Dolphins left several tries out on the field against the Cowboys in round one, Bennett knew exactly which rein to pull.

Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is blessed with the kind of speed no one can coach but in round one against North Queensland he went left when he should have looked right, bombed two tries and was ordinary as the Dolphins last line of defence.

Seven days later The Hammer produced the kind of game-breaking performance we’ve come to expect after a perfectly-timed Bennett rocket clearly hit the mark. The first hat-trick of Tabuai-Fidow’s NRL career was also punctuated with some electric defensive plays including out-sprinting Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan after being forced into a U-turn and a standing start.

There was also some genuine physicality in The Hammer defensively that would have impressed even the toughest of judges. The other bold change-up Bennett made was dropping halfback Sean O’Sullivan in favour of young gun no.7 Isaiya Katoa. This was a delicate decision given O’Sullivan is the son of the Dolphins recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan who has one of the sharpest eyes for talent in the business.

One of Bennett’s great strengths is direct conversations and so the Dolphins coach went to work and handled the situation. The way the Dolphins were able to completely flip the script in seven days shows why Bennett is guaranteed to still be coaching in the NRL next year. Where exactly remains to be seen but South Sydney are certainly aware the supercoach is still talking to a select few players on the red and green roster.

The way we see it there’s nothing wrong with that. Another of Bennett’s great strengths is his ability to communicate and relate to elite footballers and to help them become better players and better people. The Hammer’s form reversal in seven days for the Dolphins is just the latest example in a decorated, four-decade coaching career.

 

[mr_c]

Wayne’s rocket after Hammer shocker​

The old fox Wayne Bennett has still got it. Never lost it and never in doubt. Even at the age of 74, Bennett illustrated why he’s still among the NRL’s absolute elite coaches with the way he turned the Dolphins around in round two.

Bennett has shown time and again he’s a genius at when to crack the whip and when to put an arm around a player. After the Dolphins left several tries out on the field against the Cowboys in round one, Bennett knew exactly which rein to pull.

Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is blessed with the kind of speed no one can coach but in round one against North Queensland he went left when he should have looked right, bombed two tries and was ordinary as the Dolphins last line of defence.

Seven days later The Hammer produced the kind of game-breaking performance we’ve come to expect after a perfectly-timed Bennett rocket clearly hit the mark. The first hat-trick of Tabuai-Fidow’s NRL career was also punctuated with some electric defensive plays including out-sprinting Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan after being forced into a U-turn and a standing start.

There was also some genuine physicality in The Hammer defensively that would have impressed even the toughest of judges. The other bold change-up Bennett made was dropping halfback Sean O’Sullivan in favour of young gun no.7 Isaiya Katoa. This was a delicate decision given O’Sullivan is the son of the Dolphins recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan who has one of the sharpest eyes for talent in the business.

One of Bennett’s great strengths is direct conversations and so the Dolphins coach went to work and handled the situation. The way the Dolphins were able to completely flip the script in seven days shows why Bennett is guaranteed to still be coaching in the NRL next year. Where exactly remains to be seen but South Sydney are certainly aware the supercoach is still talking to a select few players on the red and green roster.

The way we see it there’s nothing wrong with that. Another of Bennett’s great strengths is his ability to communicate and relate to elite footballers and to help them become better players and better people. The Hammer’s form reversal in seven days for the Dolphins is just the latest example in a decorated, four-decade coaching career.

sean wasnt dropped he had his baby born hence why hes in cup side this weekened

 

[Dolph]

sean wasnt dropped he had his baby born hence why hes in cup side this weekened

Was the baby due the very day of the game? Not as if he would've have to go to Melbourne or NZ.

 

[Blockade]

Hammer selected for Origin. Felise is one of the reserves.

 

[Chris]

Hammer selected for Origin. Felise is one of the reserves.

Pretty strong QLD team though I would've gone with Fifita in the 17 for sure. Also Cobbo on the bench. What's that about? He's in the starting 13 or not in the 17 for me.

 

[Dolph]

State of Origin 2024: Team of the series​

3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Queensland)
Easily one of Queensland's best throughout the series. He had his worst game in a Maroon jersey during Game 3, but that didn't change the fact he was still on par with his teammates on the back of two excellent efforts in Games 1 and 2.

---

I think this is right. He looked dangerous in the first 2 games.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

State of Origin 2024: Team of the series​

3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Queensland)
Easily one of Queensland's best throughout the series. He had his worst game in a Maroon jersey during Game 3, but that didn't change the fact he was still on par with his teammates on the back of two excellent efforts in Games 1 and 2.

---

I think this is right. He looked dangerous in the first 2 games.

3rd game wasn't his game. Being from NSW, I'd say the Qld forwards got bashed, leaving no space out wide for the likes of Hammer. I wouldn't say he had a bad game, I'd say he had no opportunity/space to threaten.

D. Fifita and S'ua needed to be picked to add a bit of size to what I thought was a small pack, other then Collins. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, Maguire out coached Billy, selection wise. And I point to the Hynes selection, that didn't work and Maguire pivoting to ensure he had the cattle to execute his game plan, rather then sticking solid, which I think was Billy's game plan.

 

[Red]

3rd game wasn't his game. Being from NSW, I'd say the Qld forwards got bashed, leaving no space out wide for the likes of Hammer. I wouldn't say he had a bad game, I'd say he had no opportunity/space to threaten.

D. Fifita and S'ua needed to be picked to add a bit of size to what I thought was a small pack, other then Collins. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, Maguire out coached Billy, selection wise. And I point to the Hynes selection, that didn't work and Maguire pivoting to ensure he had the cattle to execute his game plan, rather then sticking solid, which I think was Billy's game plan.

QLD forwards got bashed badly in game 2, somewhat in games 1 and 3, IMO. There was a significant period, about 20min either side of halftime, NSW werr the better team even a man down.

 

[Dolph]

3rd game wasn't his game. Being from NSW, I'd say the Qld forwards got bashed, leaving no space out wide for the likes of Hammer. I wouldn't say he had a bad game, I'd say he had no opportunity/space to threaten.

D. Fifita and S'ua needed to be picked to add a bit of size to what I thought was a small pack, other then Collins. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, Maguire out coached Billy, selection wise. And I point to the Hynes selection, that didn't work and Maguire pivoting to ensure he had the cattle to execute his game plan, rather then sticking solid, which I think was Billy's game plan.

I was kind of happy Kafusi got selected but I was surprised. It's not 2020 anymore. Fifita had to be picked.

 

[Liverbird with Phins up]

MSN

Big praise by Tana Umaga, who is a good judge, comparing him to an awesome player in Cullen.